Polymeric engine component having integrated oil additive

ABSTRACT

An additive is released into an engine lubricant of an internal combustion engine from a component of the internal combustion engine. The component is manufactured from a polymer, and includes the additive integrally mixed with the polymer. The internal combustion engine is assembled such that the component is exposed to the engine lubricant. The additive is released into the engine lubricant over time during contact between the engine lubricant and the component. The additive may include, but is not limited to bis-nonyl-diphenylamine isomers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to a polymer component of an internalcombustion engine, and more specifically to a method of introducing anadditive into an engine lubricant with the polymer component to improvethe performance characteristics of the engine lubricant.

BACKGROUND

Internal combustion engines use an engine lubricant, i.e., engine oil,to lubricate the various moving parts thereof. The engine oil breaksdown and becomes ineffective with usage, particularly at high operatingtemperatures. Additives, such as but not limited to may includeantioxidants an/or friction modifiers, may be added to the enginelubricant to protect the engine lubricant and increase the useful lifeof the engine lubricant, as well as improve the lubricating propertiesof the engine lubricant.

SUMMARY

An internal combustion engine is provided. The internal combustionengine includes a lubrication system circulating an engine lubricanttherethrough, and an engine component in fluid contact with thelubrication system. The engine component is exposed to the enginelubricant. The engine component is manufactured from a polymer having anintegrated additive. The integrated additive is releasable over timeinto the engine lubricant during contact between the engine lubricantand the engine component.

A lubrication system is also provided. The lubrication system includes aclosed loop fluid circuit, and an engine lubricant circulating throughthe fluid circuit. The lubrication system further includes a polymercomponent. The polymer component includes an integrated additive that isreleasable over time into the engine lubricant. The additive is releasedinto the lubricant during contact between the engine lubricant and thepolymer component.

A method of introducing an additive into an engine lubricant of aninternal combustion engine is also provided. The method includesproviding a component of the internal combustion engine. The componentis manufactured from a polymer, and includes the additive integrallymixed with the polymer. The internal combustion engine is assembled suchthat the component is exposed to the engine lubricant. The additive isreleased into the engine lubricant over time during contact between theengine lubricant and the component.

Accordingly, by manufacturing the component, such as but not limited toan oil pan, cover, etc., from a polymer with the additive integrallymixed with the polymer, the additive will leach into the enginelubricant whenever the engine lubricant is in contact with thecomponent. Accordingly, the useful life of the engine lubricant may beextended, and the performance characteristics improved.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best modes for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine,showing a lubrication system circulating an engine lubricanttherethrough.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of a component of theinternal combustion engine releasing an additive into the enginelubricant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as“above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are useddescriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on thescope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like partsthroughout the several views, an internal combustion engine is generallyshown at 20. The internal combustion engine 20 includes a lubricationsystem 22 for lubricating the various moving parts of the internalcombustion engine 20.

The lubrication system 22 includes a closed loop fluid circuit 24 thatcirculates an engine lubricant 26 therethrough. The fluid circuit 24 mayinclude, but is not limited to, an engine block 28 defining a pluralityof oil jackets, a sump or reservoir defined by an oil pan 30, and a pump32 for pressurizing and circulating the engine lubricant 26 through thefluid circuit 24. As is known, the pump 32 draws the engine lubricant 26from the oil pan 30 and circulates the engine lubricant 26 through thevarious components 34 of the internal combustion engine 20, such as theoil jackets of the engine block 28, after which the engine lubricant 26drains back into the oil pan 30 to complete the fluid circuit 24.Accordingly, the engine lubricant 26 is continuously circulated in theclosed loop fluid circuit 24 when the internal combustion engine 20 isrunning as is known.

The internal combustion engine 20 is provided with at least onecomponent 34 that is manufactured from a polymer having an additive 36integrally mixed with the polymer. The internal combustion engine 20 isassembled such that the component 34 is in fluid contact with thelubrication system 22 and is exposed to the engine lubricant 26.

As noted above, the component 34 is manufactured from a polymer. Thepolymer may include but is not limited to one a nylon polymer,polybutylene terephthalate polymer, polyetheramide polymer, amide-imidepolymer, phenolic resin polymer, fluoropolymer elastomer, ethyleneacrylic elastomer, nitrile butadiene rubber, or hydrogenated butadienerubber. The polymer includes the integrated additive. The additive 36 ismixed with the polymer prior to forming the component 34, so that theadditive 36 is part of the component 34 when formed. The additive 36 maybe mixed with the polymer in any suitable manner, which is dependentupon the specific type of polymer and additive used.

The integrated additive 36 may include but is not limited to one of anantioxidant or a friction modifier. For example, the integrated additive36 may include one of bis-nonyl-diphenylamine isomers,nonyl-diphenylamine isomers, butyl-diphenylamine, octyl-diphenylamine,butyl-octyl-diphenylamine, bis-octyl diphenylamine,octyl-phenyl-ethyl-diphenylamine, bis(phenyl-ethyl)-diphenylamine, butylester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid isomers,octyl ester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acidisomers, di-(di-(t-butyl)-hydroxyphenyl) methane, molybdenumdithiocarbamates, glycerol mono-oleate, or oleyamide and similar longchain fatty acid amides.

Referring to FIG. 2, the additive 36 contained within the polymerforming the component 34 is released over time into the engine lubricant26 during contact between the engine lubricant 26 and the enginecomponent 34. Accordingly, as the engine lubricant 26 comes into contactwith the engine component 34, the additive 36 leaches from the enginecomponent 34 into the engine lubricant 26 to enhance the properties ofthe engine lubricant 26. For example, assuming that the additive 36includes a high temperature antioxidant, such as bis-nonyl-diphenylamineisomers, than the bis-nonyl-diphenylamine isomers would leach out of thepolymer forming component 34 and into the engine lubricant 26 as theengine lubricant 26 circulates past the component 34, thereby adding theantioxidant additive 36 into the engine lubricant 26 to prevent thebreakdown of the engine lubricant 26. Accordingly, the additive 36 maybe introduced into the engine lubricant 26 over the life span of thecomponent 34, and need not be added to the engine lubricant 26 everytime the engine lubricant 26 is changed.

While the additive 36 may leach into the engine lubricant 26 at anytemperature and at any time, whether the internal combustion engine 20is operating or not, the release of the additive 36 into the enginelubricant 26 may be aided or facilitated by heating the component 34 toa temperature of at least 95° C. It should be appreciated that theengine lubricant 26 is heated during the operation of the internalcombustion engine 20. Because the component 34 is in contact with theengine lubricant 26 circulating through the fluid circuit 24, thecomponent 34 will also be heated during operation of the internalcombustion engine 20. Accordingly, the normal operation of the internalcombustion engine 20 will heat the polymer component 34 to facilitate oraid the extraction or leaching of the additive 36 into the enginelubricant 26.

The component 34 may include any component 34 of the internal combustionengine 20 that is in contact with the engine lubricant 26 circulatingthrough the lubrication circuit. For example, the engine component 34may include, but is not limited to the oil pan 30, a valve cover, abaffle, or valve guide seals, or polymeric gaskets. Alternatively, it iscontemplated that the engine component 34 may include a consumable part38, such as shown in FIG. 2, that is specifically dedicated tointroducing the additive 36 into the engine lubricant 26. For example,the consumable part 38 may include an insert that is installed into theoil pan 30 of the internal combustion engine 20. The consumable part 38would introduce the additive 36 into the engine lubricant 26 asdescribed above. The consumable part 38 may be changed at intervals toensure adequate quantities of the additive 36 are available to leachinto the engine lubricant 26.

The detailed description and the drawings or figures are supportive anddescriptive of the invention, but the scope of the invention is definedsolely by the claims. While some of the best modes and other embodimentsfor carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail,various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing theinvention defined in the appended claims.

1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a lubrication systemcirculating an engine lubricant therethrough; and an engine component influid contact with the lubrication system and exposed to the enginelubricant; wherein the engine component is manufactured from a polymerhaving an integrated additive releasable over time into the enginelubricant during contact between the engine lubricant and the enginecomponent.
 2. The internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1wherein the polymer includes one of a nylon polymer, polybutyleneterephthalate polymer, polyetheramide polymer, amide-imide polymer,phenolic resin polymer, fluoropolymer elastomer, ethylene acrylicelastomer, nitrile butadiene rubber, or hydrogenated butadiene rubber.3. The internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein theintegrated additive includes one of an antioxidant or a frictionmodifier.
 4. The internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3wherein the integrated additive includes one of bis-nonyl-diphenylamineisomers, nonyl-diphenylamine isomers, butyl-diphenylamine,octyl-diphenylamine, butyl-octyl-diphenylamine, bis-octyl diphenylamine,octyl-phenyl-ethyl-diphenylamine, bis(phenyl-ethyl)-diphenylamine, butylester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid isomers,octyl ester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acidisomers, or di-(di-(t-butyl)-hydroxyphenyl) methane, molybdenumdithiocarbamates, glycerol mono-oleate, or oleyamide and similar longchain fatty acid amides.
 5. The internal combustion engine as set forthin claim 1 wherein the engine component includes one of an oil pan, avalve cover, a baffle, a valve guide seal, or a polymeric gasket.
 6. Theinternal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the enginecomponent includes a consumable part dedicated to introducing theintegrated additive into the engine lubricant.
 7. A lubrication systemcomprising: a closed loop fluid circuit; an engine lubricant circulatingthrough the fluid circuit; and a polymer component having an integratedadditive that is releasable over time into the engine lubricant duringcontact between the engine lubricant and the polymer component.
 8. Thelubrication system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the polymer componentis manufactured from one of a nylon polymer, polybutylene terephthalatepolymer, polyether-amide polymer, amide-imide polymer, phenolic resinpolymer, fluoropolymer elastomer, ethylene acrylic elastomer, nitrilebutadiene rubber, or hydrogenated butadiene rubber.
 9. The lubricationsystem as set forth in claim 7 wherein the closed loop fluid circuitincludes an engine block, a sump defined by an oil pan, and a pump. 10.The lubrication system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the integratedadditive includes one of an antioxidant or a friction modifier.
 11. Thelubrication system as set forth in claim 10 wherein the integratedadditive includes one of bis-nonyl-diphenylamine isomers, or ofbis-nonyl-diphenylamine isomers, nonyl-diphenylamine isomers,butyl-diphenylamine, octyl-diphenylamine, butyl-octyl-diphenylamine,bis-octyl diphenylamine, octyl-phenyl-ethyl-diphenylamine,bis(phenyl-ethyl)-diphenylamine, butyl ester of3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid isomers, octylester of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid isomers,or di-(di-(t-butyl)-hydroxyphenyl) methane, molybdenum dithiocarbamates,glycerol mono-oleate, or oleyamide and similar long chain fatty acidamides.
 12. The lubrication system as set forth in claim 11 wherein theengine component includes one of an oil pan or a consumable partdedicated to introducing the integrated additive into the enginelubricant.
 13. A method of introducing an additive into an enginelubricant of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:providing a component of the internal combustion engine that ismanufactured from a polymer having the additive integrally mixed withthe polymer; assembling the internal combustion engine such that thecomponent is exposed to the engine lubricant; and releasing the additiveinto the engine lubricant over time during contact between the enginelubricant and the component.
 14. The method as set forth in claim 13wherein providing the component is further defined as providing thecomponent manufactured from a polymer having bis-nonyl-diphenylamineisomers mixed therein for release into the engine lubricant.
 15. Themethod as set forth in claim 13 wherein releasing the additive into theengine lubricant includes heating the component to a temperature of atleast 95° C.
 16. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein providingthe component is further defined as providing an oil pan manufacturedfrom the polymer with the additive integrally mixed with the polymer.